AFTER back-to-back highs in the US Open and Davis Cup, World No 5 David Ferrer returns to court after a week-long break at the ATP Malaysian Open at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The 30-year-old, after having won in Bastad, Hertogenbosch, Acapulco, Buenos Aires and Auckland before reaching the US Open semi-finals and then helping Spain make the Davis Cup final, is aiming to nail his first indoor title of the season in his third attempt in Kuala Lumpur.
Ferrer, the top seed who received a first round bye, will arrive tomorrow and is expected to start his campaign on Thursday against either Russia's Alex Bogomolov Jnr or a qualifier.
If he wins, he will likely meet teammate Feliciano Lopez before a potential semi-final against Ukraine's fourth seed Alexandr Dolgopolov. Argentina's Juan Monaco and Japan's Kei Nishikori are the second and third seeds, respectively.
Five main draw players -- German Tommy Haas (World No 19), American Sam Querry (21), Italian Andreas Seppi (26), Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis (40) and Colombian Santiago Giraldo (46) -- withdrew from the tournament for various reasons.
Baghdatis just got married to former Croatian international Karoline Sprem while the rest are injured.
Tournament director Nick Freyer said their absence will not affect the Malaysian Open's prestige.
"It is normal in tennis to lose a few players from a tournament. We, however, still have the top four seeds and also other marquee players," said Freyer yesterday.
"Ferrer shouldn't be here after two tough tournaments but like a true professional, he kept his word and will arrive here soon. I believe if he plays to his form, he will win his first indoor title.
"Other contenders are Monaco, Nishikori, Dolgopolov, Lopez while Slovakia's Martin Klizan could surprise."
Nishikori, the World No 24, said he hopes to go one better than last year's semi-final appearance.
"There are good players here and I have a tough draw. I've been playing well of late and hopefully, I can maintain my form here," said Nishikori, whose only tour win was at Delray Beach in 2008.
The Asian No 1, who received a first round bye, plays either a qualifier or Spaniard Albert Ramos in the second round and if the Florida-based right-hander safely negotiates the remaining rounds, he will face Monaco in the semi-finals.
